The
XboxXbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As
the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the
XboxXbox series. It competed with Sony's
PlayStation 3PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii
as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles. It was
officially unveiled on
MTVMTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and
game information announced later that month at the 2005 E3 expo.
The
XboxXbox 360 features an online service,
XboxXbox Live, which was expanded
from its previous iteration on the original
XboxXbox and received regular
updates during the console's lifetime. Available in free and
subscription-based varieties,
XboxXbox Live allows users to: play games
online; download games (through
XboxXbox Live Arcade) and game demos;
purchase and stream music, television programs, and films through the
XboxXbox Music and
XboxXbox Video portals; and access third-party content
services through media streaming applications. In addition to online
multimedia features, it allows users to stream media from local PCs.
Several peripherals have been released, including wireless
controllers, expanded hard drive storage, and the
KinectKinect motion
sensing camera. The release of these additional services and
peripherals helped the
XboxXbox brand grow from gaming-only to
encompassing all multimedia, turning it into a hub for living-room
computing entertainment.[15][16][17][18][19]
Launched worldwide across 2005–2006, the
XboxXbox 360 was initially in
short supply in many regions, including
North AmericaNorth America and Europe. The
earliest versions of the console suffered from a high failure rate,
indicated by the so-called "Red Ring of Death", necessitating an
extension of the device's warranty period.
MicrosoftMicrosoft released two
redesigned models of the console: the
XboxXbox 360 S in 2010,[20] and the
XboxXbox 360 E in 2013.[21] As of June 2014, 84 million
XboxXbox 360 consoles
have been sold worldwide, making it the sixth-highest-selling video
game console in history, and the highest-selling console made by an
American company. Although not the best-selling console of its
generation, the
XboxXbox 360 was deemed by
TechRadarTechRadar to be the most
influential through its emphasis on digital media distribution and
multiplayer gaming on
XboxXbox Live.[19][22]
The
XboxXbox 360's successor, the
XboxXbox One, was released on November 22,
2013.[23] On April 20, 2016,
MicrosoftMicrosoft announced that it would end the
production of new
XboxXbox 360 hardware, although the company will
continue to support the platform.[6]

History
Development
Known during development as
XboxXbox Next, Xenon,
XboxXbox 2,
XboxXbox FS or
NextBox,[24] the
XboxXbox 360 was conceived in early 2003.[25] In February
2003, planning for the Xenon software platform began, and was headed
by Microsoft's Vice President J Allard.[25] That month,
MicrosoftMicrosoft held
an event for 400 developers in
Bellevue, WashingtonBellevue, Washington to recruit support
for the system.[25] Also that month, Peter Moore, former president of
SegaSega of America, joined Microsoft. On August 12, 2003, ATI signed on
to produce the graphic processing unit for the new console, a deal
which was publicly announced two days later.[26] Before the launch of
the
XboxXbox 360, several Alpha development kits were spotted using
Apple's
Power Mac G5Power Mac G5 hardware. This was because the system's PowerPC
970 processor running the same
PowerPCPowerPC architecture that the
XboxXbox 360
would eventually run under IBM's Xenon processor. The cores of the
Xenon processor were developed using a slightly modified version of
the
PlayStationPlayStation 3's Cell Processor PPE architecture. According to
David Shippy and Mickie Phipps, the
IBMIBM employees were "hiding" their
work from
SonySony and Toshiba, IBM's partners in developing the Cell
Processor.[27]
Jeff MinterJeff Minter created the music visualization program
Neon which is included with the
XboxXbox 360.[28]
Launch
Main article:
XboxXbox 360 launch
The
XboxXbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005, in the United States
and Canada;[5] December 2, 2005, in
EuropeEurope and December 10, 2005, in
Japan. It was later launched in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Hong
Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa, India, and Russia. In its first year on the market, the system
launched in 36 countries, more countries than any other console has
launched in a single year.[29]
Critical reception
In 2009,
IGNIGN named the
XboxXbox 360 the sixth-greatest video game console
of all time, out of a field of 25.[30] Although not the best-selling
console of the seventh-generation, the
XboxXbox 360 was deemed by
TechRadarTechRadar to be the most influential, by emphasizing digital media
distribution and online gaming through
XboxXbox Live, and by popularizing
game achievement awards.[19] PC Magazine considered the
XboxXbox 360 the
prototype for online gaming as it "proved that online gaming
communities could thrive in the console space".[15] Five years after
the
XboxXbox 360's original debut, the well-received
KinectKinect motion capture
camera was released, which set the record of being the fastest selling
consumer electronic device in history, and extended the life of the
console.[31] Edge ranked
XboxXbox 360 the second-best console of the
1993–2013 period, stating "It had its own social network, cross-game
chat, new indie games every week, and the best version of just about
every multiformat game...Killzone is no Halo and nowadays Gran Turismo
is no Forza, but it's not about the exclusives—there's nothing to
trump Naughty Dog's PS3 output, after all. Rather, it's about the
choices
MicrosoftMicrosoft made back in the original Xbox's lifetime. The
PC-like architecture meant the early
EA SportsEA Sports games ran at 60fps
compared to only 30 on PS3,
XboxXbox Live meant every dedicated player had
an existing friends list, and Halo meant
MicrosoftMicrosoft had the killer
next-generation exclusive. And when developers demo games on PC now
they do it with a 360 pad—another industry benchmark, and a critical
one."[32]
Sales

Region
Units sold
First available

United States
25.4 million as of March 31, 2011[update][33]
November 22, 2005

EMEA region

(Europe, Middle East and Africa)
13.7 million as of March 31, 2011[update][33]

(Includes UK sales)
December 2, 2005

United Kingdom
8 million as of February 14, 2013[update][34]

Japan
1.5 million as of June 17, 2011[update][35]
December 10, 2005

Australia & New Zealand
1 million as of April 19, 2010[update][36]
March 23, 2006

The
XboxXbox 360 began production only 69 days before launch,[38][39] and
MicrosoftMicrosoft was not able to supply enough systems to meet initial
consumer demand in
EuropeEurope or North America, selling out completely
upon release in all regions except in Japan.[40][41][42][43] Forty
thousand units were offered for sale on auction site eBay during the
initial week of release, 10% of the total supply.[44] By year's end,
MicrosoftMicrosoft had shipped 1.5 million units, including 900,000 in North
America, 500,000 in Europe, and 100,000 in Japan.[45]
In May 2008
MicrosoftMicrosoft announced that 10 million
XboxXbox 360s had been
sold and that it was the "first current generation gaming console" to
surpass the 10 million figure in the US.[46] In the US, the
XboxXbox 360
was the leader in current-generation home console sales until June
2008, when it was surpassed by the Wii.[47][48][49] The
XboxXbox 360 has
sold a total of 870,000 units in Canada as of August 1, 2008.[50]
Between January 2011 and October 2013, the
XboxXbox 360 was the
best-selling console in the United States for these 32 consecutive
months.[51]
In Europe, the
XboxXbox 360 has sold seven million units as of November
20, 2008, according to Microsoft.[52] In the United Kingdom, the Xbox
360 has sold 3.9 million units as of June 27, 2009, according to GfK
Chart-Track.[34]
While the original
XboxXbox sold poorly in Japan, selling just 2 million
units while it was on the market (between 2002 and 2005),[citation
needed] the
XboxXbox 360 sold even more poorly, selling only 1.5 million
units from 2005 to 2011.[35] Edge magazine reported in August 2011
that initially lackluster and subsequently falling sales in Japan,
where
MicrosoftMicrosoft had been unable to make serious inroads into the
dominance of domestic rivals
SonySony and Nintendo, had led to retailers
scaling down and in some cases discontinuing sales of the
XboxXbox 360
completely.[53]
Legacy
The
XboxXbox 360 sold much better than its predecessor, and although not
the best-selling console of the seventh generation, it is regarded as
a success since it strengthened
MicrosoftMicrosoft as a major force in the
console market at the expense of well-established rivals.[22] The
inexpensive
NintendoNintendoWiiWii did sell the most console units but
eventually saw a collapse of third-party software support in its later
years, and it has been viewed by some as a fad since the succeeding
WiiWii U had a poor debut in 2012.[19][54][55][56][57][58] The
PlayStation 3PlayStation 3 struggled for a time due to being too expensive and
initially lacking quality games,[59] making it far less dominant than
its predecessor, the
PlayStationPlayStation 2, and it took until late in the
PlayStationPlayStation 3's lifespan for its sales and games to reach parity with
the
XboxXbox 360.
TechRadarTechRadar proclaimed that "
XboxXbox 360 passes the baton as
the king of the hill – a position that puts all the more pressure on
its successor,
XboxXbox One".[19]
The
XboxXbox 360's advantage over its competitors was due to the release
of high-profile games from both first party and third party
developers. The 2007
Game Critics Awards honored the platform with 38
nominations and 12 wins – more than any other platform.[60][61] By
March 2008, the
XboxXbox 360 had reached a software attach rate of 7.5
games per console in the US; the rate was 7.0 in Europe, while its
competitors were 3.8 (PS3) and 3.5 (Wii), according to Microsoft.[62]
At the 2008 Game Developers Conference,
MicrosoftMicrosoft announced that it
expected over 1,000 games available for
XboxXbox 360 by the end of the
year.[63] As well as enjoying exclusives such as additions to the Halo
franchise and Gears of War, the
XboxXbox 360 has managed to gain a
simultaneous release of games that were initially planned to be PS3
exclusives, including Devil May Cry 4,[64] Ace Combat 6,[65] Virtua
Fighter 5,[66] Grand Theft Auto IV,[67]
Final FantasyFinal Fantasy XIII,[68] Tekken
6,[69] Metal Gear Solid : Rising,[70] and L.A. Noire.[71] In addition,
XboxXbox 360 versions of cross-platform games were generally considered
superior to their PS3 counterparts in 2006 and 2007, due in part to
the difficulties of programming for the PS3.[72]
TechRadarTechRadar deemed the
XboxXbox 360 as the most influential game system
through its emphasis of digital media distribution,
XboxXbox Live online
gaming service, and game achievement feature.[19] During the console's
lifetime, the
XboxXbox brand has grown from gaming-only to encompassing
all multimedia, turning it into a hub for "living-room computing
environment".[16][17][18] Five years after the
XboxXbox 360's original
debut, the well-received
KinectKinect motion capture camera was released,
which became the fastest selling consumer electronic device in
history, and extended the life of the console.[31]
MicrosoftMicrosoft announced the
XboxXbox One, successor to the
XboxXbox 360, at E3 on
June 10, 2013. Although succeeded as Microsoft's main console by the
XboxXbox One, support from publishers for the
XboxXbox 360 is expected to
continue until at least 2016.[73] On April 20, 2016, Microsoft
announced the end of production of new
XboxXbox 360 hardware; the company
will continue to provide hardware and software support for the
platform, as selected
XboxXbox 360 games can be played on
XboxXbox One.[74]
Hardware

The
XboxXbox 360 E model, announced at 2013's E3, shares many aesthetics
with the
XboxXbox One.

The main unit of the
XboxXbox 360 itself has slight double concavity in
matte white or black. The official color of the white model is Arctic
Chill. It features a port on the top when vertical (left side when
horizontal) to which a custom-housed hard disk drive unit can be
attached.
On the Slim and E models, the hard drive bay is on the bottom when
vertical (right side when horizontal) and requires the opening of a
concealed door to access it. (This does not void the warranty.) The
XboxXbox 360 Slim/E hard drives are standard 2.5" SATA laptop drives, but
have a custom enclosure and firmware so that the
XboxXbox 360 can
recognize it.[citation needed]
Technical specifications
Main article:
XboxXbox 360 technical specifications
Various hard disk drives have been produced, including options at 20,
60, 120, 250, or 320 GB. Inside, the
XboxXbox 360 uses the
triple-core
IBMIBM designed Xenon as its CPU, with each core capable of
simultaneously processing two threads, and can therefore operate on up
to six threads at once.[75] Graphics processing is handled by the ATI
Xenos, which has 10 MB of eDRAM. Its main memory pool is
512 MB in size.
Accessories
Main article:
XboxXbox 360 accessories
Many accessories are available for the console, including both wired
and wireless controllers, faceplates for customization, headsets for
chatting, a webcam for video chatting, dance mats and
GamercizeGamercize for
exercise, three sizes of memory units and five sizes of hard drives
(20, 60, 120, 250 (initially
JapanJapan only,[76] but later also available
elsewhere[77][78]) and 320 GB), among other items, all of which
are styled to match the console.
Kinect
Main article: Kinect

KinectKinect is a "controller-free gaming and entertainment experience" for
the
XboxXbox 360. It was first announced on June 1, 2009 at the Electronic
Entertainment Expo, under the codename, Project Natal.[79] The add-on
peripheral enables users to control and interact with the
XboxXbox 360
without a game controller by using gestures, spoken commands and
presented objects and images. The
KinectKinect accessory is compatible with
all
XboxXbox 360 models,[80] connecting to new models via a custom
connector, and to older ones via a USB and mains power adapter.[81]
During their CES 2010 keynote speech, Robbie Bach and
MicrosoftMicrosoft CEO
Steve BallmerSteve Ballmer went on to say that
KinectKinect will be released during the
holiday period (November–January) and work with every 360 console.
Its name and release date of November 4, 2010, were officially
announced on June 13 of that year, prior to Microsoft's press
conference at E3 2010.[82]

XboxXbox 360 Chatpad from the Messenger Kit attached to a wireless
controller

Main article: List of
XboxXbox 360 retail configurations
At launch, the
XboxXbox 360 was available in two configurations: the "Xbox
360" package (unofficially known as the 20 GB Pro or Premium),
priced at US$399 or GB£279.99, and the "
XboxXbox 360 Core", priced at
US$299 and GB£209.99. The original shipment of the
XboxXbox 360 version
included a cut-down version of the Media Remote as a promotion. The
Elite package was launched later at US$479. The "
XboxXbox 360 Core" was
replaced by the "
XboxXbox 360 Arcade" in October 2007[87] and a 60 GB
version of the
XboxXbox 360 Pro was released on August 1, 2008. The Pro
package was discontinued and marked down to US$249 on August 28, 2009
to be sold until stock ran out, while the Elite was also marked down
in price to US$299.[88]
Two major hardware revisions of the
XboxXbox 360 have succeeded the
original models; the
XboxXbox 360 S (also referred to as the "Slim")
replaced the original "Elite" and "Arcade" models in 2010. The S model
carries a smaller, streamlined appearance with an angular case, and
utilizes a redesigned motherboard designed to alleviate the hardware
and overheating issues experienced by prior models. It also includes a
proprietary port for use with the
KinectKinect sensor.[20][89][90] The Xbox
360 E, a further streamlined variation of the 360 S with a two-tone
rectangular case inspired by
XboxXbox One, was released in 2013. In
addition to its revised aesthetics, the
XboxXbox 360 E also has one fewer
USB port, no AV connector (and thus is HDMI-only), and no longer
supports S/PDIF.[91]
Timeline

Three red lights on the
XboxXbox 360's ring indicator representing a
"General Error requiring service of the Console or Power Adapter,"
commonly nicknamed the "Red Ring of Death."

The
XboxXbox 360 (not Slim and E models) has been subject to a number of
technical problems. Since the console's release in 2005, users have
reported concerns over its reliability and failure rate.[98][99][100]
To aid customers with defective consoles,
MicrosoftMicrosoft extended the Xbox
360's manufacturer's warranty to three years for hardware failure
problems that generate a "General Hardware Failure" error report. A
"General Hardware Failure" is recognized on all models released before
the
XboxXbox 360 S by three quadrants of the ring around the power button
flashing red. This error is often known as the "Red Ring of
Death".[101] In April 2009 the warranty was extended to also cover
failures related to the E74 error code.[102] The warranty extension is
not granted for any other types of failures that do not generate these
specific error codes.
Since these problems surfaced,
MicrosoftMicrosoft has attempted to modify the
console to improve its reliability. Modifications include a reduction
in the number, size, and placement of components, the addition of dabs
of epoxy on the corners and edges of the CPU and GPU as glue to
prevent movement relative to the board during heat expansion,[103] and
a second GPU heatsink to dissipate more heat.[104] With the release of
the redesigned
XboxXbox 360 S, the warranty for the newer models does not
include the three-year extended coverage for "General Hardware
Failures".[105] The newer
XboxXbox 360 S and E models indicate system
overheating when the console's power button begins to flash red,
unlike previous models where the first and third quadrant of the ring
would light up red around the power button if overheating occurred.
The system will then warn the user of imminent system shutdown until
the system has cooled,[106] whereas a flashing power button that
alternates between green and red is an indication of a "General
Hardware Failure" unlike older models where three of the quadrants
would light up red.[107]

Software
Games
Main article: List of
XboxXbox 360 games
See also: List of
XboxXbox games compatible with
XboxXbox 360 and List of Xbox
Originals

The
XboxXbox 360 launched with 14 games in
North AmericaNorth America and 13 in Europe.
The console's best-selling game for 2005, Call of Duty 2, sold over a
million copies.[108] Five other games sold over a million copies in
the console's first year on the market: Ghost Recon Advanced
Warfighter,[109] The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,[110] Dead or Alive
4,[111] Saints Row,[112] and Gears of War.[113]
Gears of WarGears of War would
become the best-selling game on the console with 3 million copies in
2006,[114] before being surpassed in 2007 by
Halo 3Halo 3 with over 8
million copies.[115]
Six games were initially available in Japan, while eagerly anticipated
games such as
Dead or Alive 4Dead or Alive 4 and
Enchanted ArmsEnchanted Arms were released in the
weeks following the console's launch.[116] Games targeted specifically
for the region, such as Chromehounds, Ninety-Nine Nights, and Phantasy
Star Universe, were also released in the console's first year.[117]
MicrosoftMicrosoft also had the support of Japanese developer Mistwalker,
founded by
Final FantasyFinal Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. Mistwalker's
first game, Blue Dragon, was released in 2006 and had a
limited-edition bundle which sold out quickly with over 10,000
pre-orders.[118] Blue Dragon is one of three
XboxXbox 360 games to surpass
200,000 units in Japan, along with
Tales of VesperiaTales of Vesperia and Star Ocean:
The Last Hope. Mistwalker's second game,
Lost OdysseyLost Odyssey also sold over
100,000 copies.[119]
The 2007
Game Critics Awards honored the
XboxXbox 360 platform with 38
Nominations and 11 Wins.[120] By March 2008, the
XboxXbox 360 had reached
a software attach rate of 7.5 games per console—a record for any
console in history.[121][unreliable source?]

Interface
Main article:
XboxXbox 360 system software
The
XboxXbox 360's original graphical user interface was the
XboxXbox 360
Dashboard; a tabbed interface that featured five "Blades" (formerly
four blades), and was designed by
AKQAAKQA and Audiobrain. It could be
launched automatically when the console booted without a disc in it,
or when the disc tray was ejected, but the user had the option to
select what the console does if a game is in the tray on start up, or
if inserted when already on. A simplified version of it was also
accessible at any time via the
XboxXbox Guide button on the gamepad. This
simplified version showed the user's gamercard,
XboxXbox Live messages and
friends list. It also allowed for personal and music settings, in
addition to voice or video chats, or returning to the
XboxXbox Dashboard
from the game.
On November 19, 2008, the
XboxXbox 360's dashboard was changed from the
"Blade" interface, to a dashboard reminiscent of that present on the
ZuneZune and Windows Media Center, known as the "New
XboxXbox Experience" or
NXE.[122]
Since the console's release,
MicrosoftMicrosoft has released several updates
for the Dashboard software. These updates have included adding new
features to the console, enhancing
XboxXbox Live functionality and
multimedia playback capabilities, adding compatibility for new
accessories, and fixing bugs in the software. Such updates are
mandatory for users wishing to use
XboxXbox Live, as access to
XboxXbox Live
is disabled until the update is performed.
New
XboxXbox Experience
Further information:
XboxXbox Live § New
XboxXbox Experience
At E3 2008, at Microsoft's Show, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg and Marc
Whitten announced the new
XboxXbox 360 interface called the "New Xbox
Experience" (NXE). The update was intended to ease console menu
navigation. Its GUI uses the Twist UI, previously used in Windows
Media Center and the Zune. Its new
XboxXbox Guide retains all Dashboard
functionality (including the Marketplace browser and disk ejection)
and the original "Blade" interface (although the color scheme has been
changed to match that of the NXE Dashboard).[123]
The NXE also provides many new features. Users can now install games
from disc to the hard drive to play them with reduced load time and
less disc drive noise, but each game's disc must remain in the system
in order to run. A new, built-in Community system allows the creation
of digitized Avatars that can be used for multiple activities, such as
sharing photos or playing Arcade games like 1 vs. 100. The update was
released on November 19, 2008.[124]
While previous system updates have been stored on internal memory, the
NXE update was the first to require a storage device—at least a 128
MB memory card or a hard drive.[125]
MicrosoftMicrosoft released a further update to the
XboxXbox 360 Dashboard starting
on December 6, 2011.[126] It included a completely new user interface
which utilizes Microsoft's Metro design language, and added new
features such as cloud storage for game saves and profiles, live
television, Bing voice search,[127] access to YouTube videos and
better support for
KinectKinect voice commands.[128]
Multimedia
The
XboxXbox 360 supports videos in
Windows Media VideoWindows Media Video (WMV) format
(including high-definition and PlaysForSure videos), as well as H.264
and
MPEG-4 media. The December 2007 dashboard update added support for
the playback of
MPEG-4 ASP format videos.[129] The console can also
display pictures and perform slideshows of photo collections with
various transition effects, and supports audio playback, with music
player controls accessible through the
XboxXbox 360 Guide button. Users
may play back their own music while playing games or using the
dashboard, and can play music with an interactive visual synthesizer.
Music, photos and videos can be played from standard USB mass storage
devices,
XboxXbox 360 proprietary storage devices (such as memory cards or
XboxXbox 360 hard drives), and servers or computers with Windows Media
Center or
Windows XPWindows XP with
Service pack 2 or higher within the
local-area network in streaming mode.[130][131] As the
XboxXbox 360 uses a
modified version of the UPnP AV protocol,[132] some alternative UPnP
servers such as uShare (part of the
GeeXboXGeeXboX project) and
MythTVMythTV can
also stream media to the
XboxXbox 360, allowing for similar functionality
from non-Windows servers. This is possible with video files up to
HD-resolution and with several codecs (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV) and
container formats (WMV, MOV, TS).[133]
As of October 27, 2009,[134] UK and Ireland users are also able to
access live and on-demand streams of Sky television programming.[135]
At the 2007, 2008, and 2009 Consumer Electronics Shows,
MicrosoftMicrosoft had
announced that
IPTVIPTV services would soon be made available to use
through the
XboxXbox 360. In 2007,
MicrosoftMicrosoft chairman
Bill GatesBill Gates stated
that
IPTVIPTV on
XboxXbox 360 was expected to be available to consumers by the
holiday season, using the
MicrosoftMicrosoft TV
IPTVIPTV Edition platform.[136] In
2008, Gates and president of Entertainment & Devices Robbie Bach
announced a partnership with BT in the United Kingdom, in which the BT
Vision advanced TV service, using the newer
MicrosoftMicrosoft Mediaroom IPTV
platform, would be accessible via
XboxXbox 360, planned for the middle of
the year.[137] BT Vision's DVR-based features would not be available
on
XboxXbox 360 due to limited hard drive capacity.[138] In 2010, while
announcing version 2.0 of
MicrosoftMicrosoft Mediaroom,
MicrosoftMicrosoft CEO Steve
Ballmer mentioned that AT&T's
U-verseU-verseIPTVIPTV service would enable
XboxXbox 360s to be used as set-top boxes later in the year.[139] As of
January 2010,
IPTVIPTV on
XboxXbox 360 has yet to be deployed beyond limited
trials.
In 2012,
MicrosoftMicrosoft released the Live Event Player, allowing for events
such as video game shows, beauty pageants, award shows, concerts, news
and sporting events to be streamed on the console via
XboxXbox Live. The
first live events streamed on Live were the 2012 Revolver Golden Gods,
Microsoft's E3 2012 media briefing and the
Miss Teen USA 2012 beauty
pageant.
XNA community
Main article:
MicrosoftMicrosoft XNA
XNA Community is a feature whereby
XboxXbox 360 owners can receive
community-created games, made with
MicrosoftMicrosoft XNA Game Studio, from the
XNA Creators Club. The games are written, published, and distributed
through a community managed portal. XNA Community provides a channel
for digital videogame delivery over
XboxXbox Live that can be free of
royalties, publishers and licenses.[140][141] XNA game sales, however,
did not meet original expectations.[142] though
XboxXbox Live Indie Games
(XBLIG) has had some "hits."
Services
XboxXbox Live
Main article:
XboxXbox Live
When the
XboxXbox 360 was released, Microsoft's online gaming service Xbox
Live was shut down for 24 hours and underwent a major upgrade, adding
a basic non-subscription service called
XboxXbox Live Silver (later
renamed
XboxXbox Live Free) to its already established premium
subscription-based service (which was renamed Gold).
XboxXbox Live Free is
included with all SKUs of the console. It allows users to create a
user profile, join on message boards, and access Microsoft's
XboxXbox Live
Arcade and Marketplace and talk to other members.[143][144] A Live
Free account does not generally support multiplayer gaming; however,
some games that have rather limited online functions already, (such as
Viva Piñata) or games that feature their own subscription service
(e.g.
EA SportsEA Sports games) can be played with a Free account.
XboxXbox Live
also supports voice the latter a feature possible with the
XboxXbox Live
Vision.[145]
XboxXbox Live Gold includes the same features as Free and includes
integrated online game playing capabilities outside of third-party
subscriptions.
MicrosoftMicrosoft has allowed previous
XboxXbox Live subscribers to
maintain their profile information, friends list, and games history
when they make the transition to
XboxXbox Live Gold. To transfer an Xbox
Live account to the new system, users need to link a Windows Live ID
to their gamertag on Xbox.com.[146] When users add an
XboxXbox Live
enabled profile to their console, they are required to provide the
console with their passport account information and the last four
digits of their credit card number, which is used for verification
purposes and billing. An
XboxXbox Live Gold account has an annual cost of
US$59.99, C$59.99, NZ$90.00, GB£39.99, or €59.99. As of January 5,
2011,
XboxXbox Live has over 30 million subscribers.[147]

XboxXbox Live Marketplace
Main article:
XboxXbox Live Marketplace
The
XboxXbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for the console
that allows
XboxXbox Live users to download purchased or promotional
content. The service offers movie and game trailers, game demos, Xbox
Live Arcade games and
XboxXbox 360 Dashboard themes as well as add-on game
content (items, costumes, levels etc.). These features are available
to both Free and Gold members on
XboxXbox Live. A hard drive or memory
unit is required to store products purchased from
XboxXbox Live
Marketplace.[148] In order to download priced content, users are
required to purchase
MicrosoftMicrosoft Points for use as scrip;[149] though
some products (such as trailers and demos) are free to download.
MicrosoftMicrosoft Points can be obtained through prepaid cards in 1,600 and
4,000-point denominations.
MicrosoftMicrosoft Points can also be purchased
through
XboxXbox Live with a credit card in 500, 1,000, 2,000 and
5,000-point denominations. Users are able to view items available to
download on the service through a PC via the
XboxXbox Live Marketplace
website.[150] An estimated seventy percent of
XboxXbox Live users have
downloaded items from the Marketplace.[151]

XboxXbox Live Arcade
Main article:
XboxXbox Live Arcade
XboxXbox Live Arcade is an online service operated by
MicrosoftMicrosoft that is
used to distribute downloadable video games to
XboxXbox and
XboxXbox 360
owners. In addition to classic arcade games such as Ms. Pac-Man, the
service offers some new original games like Assault Heroes. The Xbox
Live Arcade also features games from other consoles, such as the
PlayStationPlayStation game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and PC games such
as Zuma. The service was first launched on November 3, 2004,[152]
using a
DVDDVD to load, and offered games for about US$5 to $15. Items
are purchased using
MicrosoftMicrosoft Points, a proprietary currency used to
reduce credit card transaction charges. On November 22, 2005, Xbox
Live Arcade was re-launched with the release of the
XboxXbox 360, in which
it was now integrated with the
XboxXbox 360's dashboard. The games are
generally aimed toward more casual gamers; examples of the more
popular games are Geometry Wars, Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting,
and Uno.[153] On March 24, 2010,
MicrosoftMicrosoft introduced the
Game RoomGame Room to
XboxXbox Live.
Game RoomGame Room is a gaming service for
XboxXbox 360 and Microsoft
Windows that lets players compete in classic arcade and console games
in a virtual arcade.[154]

Movies & TV
Main article:
MicrosoftMicrosoft Movies & TV
On November 6, 2006,
MicrosoftMicrosoft announced the
XboxXbox Video Marketplace,
an exclusive video store accessible through the console. Launched in
the United States on November 22, 2006, the first anniversary of the
XboxXbox 360's launch, the service allows users in the United States to
download high-definition and standard-definition television shows and
movies onto an
XboxXbox 360 console for viewing. With the exception of
short clips, content is not currently available for streaming, and
must be downloaded. Movies are also available for rental. They expire
in 14 days after download or at the end of the first 24 hours after
the movie has begun playing, whichever comes first. Television
episodes can be purchased to own, and are transferable to an unlimited
number of consoles. Downloaded files use 5.1 surround audio and are
encoded using
VC-1 for video at 720p, with a bitrate of
6.8 Mbit/s.[155] Television content is offered from MTV, VH1,
Comedy Central, Turner Broadcasting, and CBS; and movie content is
Warner Bros., Paramount, and Disney, along with other publishers.[156]
After the Spring 2007 update, the following video codecs are
supported:

H.264 video support: Up to 15 Mbit/s, Baseline, Main, and High
(up to level 4.1) Profiles with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.
MPEG-4 Part 2 video support: Up to 8 Mbit/s, Simple Profile with
2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.

As a late addition to the December
XboxXbox 360 update, 25 movies were
added to the European
XboxXbox 360 video market place on the December 11,
2007 and cost 250
MicrosoftMicrosoft points for the SD version on the movie and
380 points for the HD version of the movie.[157]
XboxXbox Live members in
Canada featured the ability to go on the
XboxXbox Live Marketplace also as
of December 11, 2007 with around 30 movies to be downloaded for the
same amount of
MicrosoftMicrosoft Points.[158]
On May 26, 2009,
MicrosoftMicrosoft announced the future release of the
ZuneZune HD
(in the fall of 2009), the next addition to the
ZuneZune product range.
This is of an impact on the
XboxXbox Live Video Store as it was also
announced that the
ZuneZune Video Marketplace and the
XboxXbox Live Video
Store will be merged to form the
ZuneZune Marketplace, which will be
arriving on
XboxXbox Live in 7 countries initially, the United Kingdom,
the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Ireland and Spain.[159]
Further details were released at the
MicrosoftMicrosoft press conference at E3
2009.[160]
On October 16, 2012,
XboxXbox Video and
XboxXbox Music were released,
replacing the
ZuneZune Marketplace.
XboxXbox Video is a digital video service
on that offers full HD movies and TV series for purchase or rental on
XboxXbox 360, Windows 8,
Windows RTWindows RT PCs and tablets, and Windows
Phones.[161]
On August 18, 2015,
MicrosoftMicrosoft rolled out an update renaming it Movies
and TV similar to the Windows 10 App.[162]
Groove Music
Main article: Groove Music
XboxXbox Music provides 30 million music tracks available for purchase or
access through subscription. It was announced at the Electronic
Entertainment Expo 2012 and will integrate with
Windows 8Windows 8 and Windows
Phone as well.[163]
In August 2015
MicrosoftMicrosoft rolled out an update renaming it to Groove
Music similar to the Windows 10 App.
XboxXbox SmartGlass
Main article:
XboxXbox SmartGlass
XboxXbox SmartGlass is a new feature that allows for integration between
the
XboxXbox 360 console and mobile devices such as tablets and
smartphones. An app is available on Android,
Windows PhoneWindows Phone 8 and iOS.
Users of the feature can view additional content to accompany the game
they are playing, or the TV shows and movies they are watching. They
can also use their mobile device as a remote to control the
XboxXbox 360
console.
Game development

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August
2016)

PartnerNet, the developers-only alternative
XboxXbox Live network used by
developers to beta test game content downloads and games developed for
XboxXbox Live Arcade,[164] runs on
XboxXbox 360 debug kits, which are used
both by developers and by the gaming press. In a podcast released on
February 12, 2007, a developer breached the PartnerNet non-disclosure
agreement (NDA) by commenting that he had found a playable version of
Alien HominidAlien Hominid and an unplayable version of
IkarugaIkaruga on PartnerNet. A
few video game journalists, misconstruing the breach of the NDA as an
invalidation of the NDA, immediately began reporting on other games
being tested via PartnerNet, including a remake of Jetpac.[165] (Alien
Hominid for the
XboxXbox 360 was released on February 28 of that year, and
IkarugaIkaruga was released over a year later on April 9, 2008.
JetpacJetpac was
released for the
XboxXbox 360 on March 28, 2007 as
JetpacJetpac Refuelled.)
There have also been numerous video and screenshot leaks of game
footage on PartnerNet, as well as a complete version of Sonic the
Hedgehog 4: Episode I, which caused for the whole PartnerNet service
to be shut down overnight on April 3, 2010.[166] In the following
days,
MicrosoftMicrosoft began reminding developers and journalists that they
are in breach of NDA by sharing information about content available on
PartnerNet, and has been asking websites to remove lists of games in
development discovered on PartnerNet.[citation needed]
See also

List of
XboxXbox 360 games
List of original programs distributed by
XboxXbox Entertainment Studios